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Sensation. Sensation Information coming into our brain from our sensory receivers. Scientific Names for the Six Senses. Seeing: Visual Hearing: Auditory Tasting: Gustatory Smelling: Olfactory Sense of Touch: Tactile Balance: Vestibular. Bottom-up Processing.
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Sensation Information coming into our brain from our sensory receivers
Scientific Names for the Six Senses • Seeing: Visual • Hearing: Auditory • Tasting: Gustatory • Smelling: Olfactory • Sense of Touch: Tactile • Balance: Vestibular
Bottom-up Processing Analysis of the stimulus begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the level of the brain and mind. Letter “A” is really a black blotch broken down into features by the brain that we perceive as an “A.”
Top-Down Processing • Information processing guided by higher-level mental processes as we construct perceptions, drawing on our experience and expectations. • Top Down Processing explains how our expectations and prior experiences guide our perceptions. THE CHT
Top-Down Processing • Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at CmabrigdeUinervtisy, it deosn'tmttaer in wahtoredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olnyiprmoetnttihng is taht the frist and lsatltteer be at the rghitpclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitllraed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamnmniddeos not raederveylteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
Making Sense of Complexity “The Forest Has Eyes,” Bev Doolittle How many faces do you see?
Psychophysics • Psychophysics: study of the relationship between physical characteristics of stimuli and our psychological experience of them • Light - brightness • Sound - volume • Pressure - weight • Taste - sweetness
Thresholds Absolute Threshold Minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time. Subliminal Messages Messages presented below absolute thresholds – not consciously perceived http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73fCLx-mFLg
“Subliminal Messages” • Some have argued that humans still “pick up” these messages that influence our “unconscious.” Do these messages have suggestive powers? • Skeptics argue “Subliminal Messages” are heavily influenced by top down processes. • Example: Feeling “hungry” during subliminal advertisements.
Difference Threshold Amount of change needed to notice that a change has occurred. Weber’s Law:The greater or stronger the stimulus, the greater the change required to notice that a change has occurred. The two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage (rather than a constant amount), to be perceived as different.
Sensation: Thresholds • Signal Detection Theory:predicts how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus (signal) amid background stimulation (noise) • Assumes that there is no single absolute threshold because the idea of a threshold ignores the decision-making ability of the test subject.
Sensory Adaptation Diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation. Put a band aid on your arm and after awhile you don’t sense it.